Free Web NovelChapter 111: Chapter 111 Matching False Energies
Bella’s POV
The wine glass trembled slightly in my left hand as Camilla continued her performance. Her voice dripped with false sweetness, each word calculated to sound apologetic while shifting blame.
"I really am sorry, Bella. I know you probably think I say this every time, but I genuinely don’t enjoy seeing you hurt. It’s just that when you speak to my mother that way, it cuts deep," she said, that practiced smile never wavering.
Dinner had ended some time ago. The children were tucked safely in their beds, and now we sat in the living room like civilized adults sharing wine. The irony wasn’t lost on me.
Vance’s grip on my right hand was almost painful in its intensity. His fingers laced through mine with such force that I wondered if he was holding me back or holding himself together. Either way, I was grateful for the anchor.
Hugo might as well have been a ghost. Throughout dinner, he’d spoken only to the children, his responses to everyone else limited to nods and one-word answers. Now he slouched in the oversized recliner, wine glass dangling from his fingers as he stared through the window at the empty street. His detachment was so complete it felt intentional.
Camilla perched on the edge of the opposite couch like a bird ready to take flight. Her wine glass was clutched in both hands, elbows planted on her thighs as she leaned forward with eager anticipation. She was the only one who seemed to be enjoying this twisted family reunion.
"So you’re defending what your mother did then," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
Every instinct screamed at me to walk away. I hadn’t wanted her in my house, hadn’t wanted to share a meal with someone who’d stood by while her mother tried to humiliate me. But Vance had asked me to trust him, to let him handle the situation while he had the chocolates tested. I’d agreed, but my patience was wearing thin.
Vance was unpredictable on his best days, but tonight he was playing a role I’d never seen before. He’d been charming but slightly rough around the edges all evening, like a brother-in-law who cared but didn’t quite know how to show it. Maybe Hugo’s obvious disengagement was affecting him too.
"Of course I’m not defending her," Camilla said quickly, placing her free hand over her heart in a gesture of wounded innocence. "But I think both of you went too far during my engagement dinner. It was supposed to be a celebration."
She took a delicate sip of wine, blinking those wide eyes at Vance as if seeking his sympathy for her ruined evening.
Heat flooded my cheeks. "Your mother brought up my past to shame me in front of Hugo’s parents. She wanted to humiliate me, and I defended myself. That’s hardly going too far."
Even as I tried to stay calm, the words came out sharper than intended. I caught the brief flicker of satisfaction that crossed Camilla’s face before she hid it behind fake concern.
"I suppose I was the real victim here," she said with a light laugh that didn’t reach her eyes. "My dinner was ruined, and well, Hugo ended our engagement because of it."
"Maybe you should have controlled your mother’s behavior then," Vance’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
A sudden stillness fell over the room, and from the way her smile cracked, I knew she was shocked. Her practiced smile revealed something uglier underneath. She wasn’t used to being called out directly.
"You’re absolutely right," she recovered quickly, switching topics with the skill of someone used to manipulation. "Anyway, what are your plans now that you’re back?"
"Things," Vance replied, his tone deliberately vague.
He offered no explanation, no elaboration, leaving Camilla floundering in the uncomfortable silence that followed.
"What about your wedding?" Vance asked, his voice deceptively casual. "When are you planning to have the ceremony?"
My eyes drifted to Hugo, noting how completely disconnected he seemed from a conversation about his own wedding. But then he slowly turned, and our gazes locked for a heartbeat before I looked away, my pulse quickening despite myself.
"We’re thinking soon," Camilla said, settling back against the couch cushions. "Maybe a month or so."
When she looked at me, her smile was pure venom disguised as sweetness. The challenge in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Perfect. I’ll be here for that," Vance said smoothly.
Camilla nodded enthusiastically, probably already planning how to win him over.
"I think we should go," Hugo finally spoke, his voice rusty from disuse. "It’s late."
It was the most he’d said all evening, at least to the adults in the room. The children had gotten full conversations, but the rest of us were apparently not worth the effort.
"Of course! This was wonderful. Thank you so much for having us," Camilla gushed, bouncing to her feet with renewed energy. "And thank you, brother-in-law, for bringing us back together."
Her voice took on that sickeningly sweet tone she used when trying to charm people.
"Naturally," Vance replied, matching her enthusiasm with frightening accuracy. "I had no idea I even had a sister-in-law. I think we’re going to get along great. Our energies match perfectly. We can team up against these two when they get stubborn."
The performance was flawless, and I watched Camilla practically glow with satisfaction. She rubbed her hands together like she’d just won the lottery, probably already plotting how to use this newfound alliance against me.
This was her standard playbook. Every time one of my friends came around, she’d work her magic, turning them into allies in her campaign to make my life miserable.
"Oh my goodness, Bella, you have the most amazing husband," she gushed, moving toward me with outstretched arms.
But I remained firmly planted on the couch, making no move to reciprocate. After an awkward moment, she settled for an uncomfortable pat on my head before practically skipping away with Hugo in tow.
The moment the front door closed behind them, Vance’s facade crumbled. His shoulders sagged, and the cold calculation returned to his features.
"So, you two have matching energies?" I teased, unable to resist.
"I get it now," he said, turning to face me fully on the couch. "I understand why you can’t stand her. She’s absolutely insufferable."
A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and we stared at each other for a moment before dissolving into laughter. freēwebnovel.com
"What’s so funny?" Chloe’s voice cut through our amusement as she appeared in the doorway.
While I still wore my smile, Vance’s vanished instantly, his expression turning glacial. freewebnovel.cσ๓
"Nothing you’d understand," he said, his voice sharp. "Our energies don’t match."
We started laughing again at the reference, but I could see Chloe’s face falling, hurt evident in her features. She clearly didn’t understand the joke, and Vance’s dismissive tone had stung.
The tension in the room shifted, and I realized our moment of shared understanding had just created a new problem.
